Monday, April 8, the James Hardie plant in Frederickson hosted their residential neighbors for an Open House. Kit Mattson of Puget Sound Properties and Engineering Manager Chris Davis of James Hardie described the issues the plant is facing in terms of increasing business levels, the need for expansion, the jobs they expect to create and the process going forward. County Councilman Jim McCune, his assistant Amy Cruver, the county engineer and Kevin Clegg from the county’s Economic Development Department were also present to listen and answer questions.

Tomorrow, Tuesday April 9, the County Council has Resolution 2013-20 on their 3 p.m. agenda. That Resolution begins the process of permanently closing a portion of 180th Street East in Frederickson, from about 47th Avenue to 50th Avenue, so the James Hardie plant can double in size to meet demand. The public can attend the council meeting and comment or watch Pierce County TV live on Comcast, Click! or at this weblink.  http://piercecountytv.org/

At the Open House, no one argued that Pierce County could use the jobs. All expressed appreciation for a plant that will bring on 100 more employees and the extended benefits to other businesses and industries from those jobs and the increased production. Locals did have some ideas about the process for the closure and expressed some needs to accommodate the local area if/when the closure takes place.

The Hardie officials explained that the closure will be concurrent with the construction of an extension to 50th Avenue East. It currently ends at 180th Street, but will be extended to 176th to help carry truck traffic from James Hardie, Parr Lumber, Medallion Foods and other plats nearby. That new section of road will be wider and stronger than the current, nearly 100-year-old 180th Street. Many of these conditions will be part of the public process that the county will conduct after Tuesday’s Resolution is passed. That next process, as part of an Ordinance will involve official public meetings and a county engineering review.

Many issues were brought up at the Open House and will likely be addressed in the ordinance process. Those include:

1) A turn around for trucks, school buses and emergency vehicles on the dead-end

2) A path or trail for people and bicycles to take from the residence on 180th west of the closure to walk to the nearby stores east of Canyon Road.

3) How many stop lights will there be between 50th Avenue and 55th Avenue either side of Canyon Road on 176th Street if other area developments on the corners are built?

4) How many utilities (like water lines, fire hydrants, fiber optic cables, telephone) along 180th Street have to be moved and who will pay for this?

5) Will the plant expansion affect the water wells in the area?

6) What school bus stops are in the area?

7) Requirements of the Frederickson Community Plan for connecting roads and making more through routes

Thank you to James Hardie for inviting the community to hear your story. Stay tuned Tuesday for a rousting good meeting full of community participation, ideas and old fashioned democracy.

[Editor’s note: There is one secret to this process that the regulars know. If you participate, get your name on the list, write a letter, stand up and say ANYTHING, it gives you something called “standing.” Standing is like gold if the process goes sideways at any point. Those with standing are the ones that can later take an issue to court. If you don’t participate, you can’t complain later if something about the final decision doesn’t suit you.]